Spectacular-display apparatus.



D. G. KINDLEBERGER.

SPECTACULAR DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00130, 1911.

1,034,714, A PatentedAug. 6,1912.

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1N VEN T 0R COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH C0" WASHINGTON, D. C.

DAVID G. KINDLEBERGER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SPECTACULAR-DISPLAY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Application filed October 30, 1911. Serial No. 657,575.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID G. KINDLEBER- GER, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1927 G street northwest, in the city of WVashington, Dist-riot of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spectacular-Display Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus by which to suspend in an elevated position, with freedom of limited movement in lateral and preferably also in rotary directions, a piano or other instrument or apparatus together with its operator, for the purpose of producing spectacular or dramatic effects.

The objectof the invention is to provide means for readily effecting elevating, laterally swinging, and rotary movements of the device. I p

The invention consists in certain novel relations as well as constructions of the parts as hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus complete; Fig. 2 is a detail view of the suspending connections as well as those for imparting laterally swinglng and rotary movements to the sling;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figs. 1

1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a detail of the swivel.

1 represents an instrument or apparatus upon which to perform or act for dramatic or spectacular effect. In the present illustrative embodiment, this instrument is in the form of a piano.

2 represents a sling comprising leads, sufficient in number to support the instrument and control its position both horizontally and rotarily. I prefer to use three leads 2*,

2 and 2, which are connected with the in strument at I This, however, is a feature, the details of which will be indicated by circumstances encountered in the particular instrument to be suspended.

3 represents a shackle to which the sling 2 is connected by a swivel 4 and upon which is mounted a grooved wheel 5. The shackle terminates above in a ring 6 which receives a vertical suspending cable 7 by which to elevate the instrument from the floor, and two swinging cables 8, preferably extended upwardly as well as laterally from the ring 6 of the shackle 3, for the purpose of retaining the proper direction of control notwithstanding elevation of the shackle in the operation of the apparatus. The cables 8 pass over guiding sheaves 9 and thence downwardly in the leads 8 to a point where they may be conveniently grasped, in imparting swinging motion to the instrument supported in the sling. Applied to the downwardly extending portions of the cables 8, are ballast bags 10 filled with sand or other relatively heavy material, of suitable weight to prevent too free swinging movement of the instrument.

The elevating cable 7 passes over a top sheave 11, thence over a guiding sheave 12 at one side and thence downwardly in the lead 7 where it is connected to one end of the block-and-tackle 13, the other end of which is securely anchored at 14 to the floor while the free end 13" of the rope is connected to a Windlass 15, by which it may be wound up or unwound at will. Guiding wires 16 receive a follower 17 which is con nected to the upper'block to prevent twisting of the ropes during the operation of the tackle. The pulley 5 receives a flexible driving connection 18 held thereto by idlers 19 in the frame 20 and extending over a guiding sheave 21 and thence downwardly in the lead 21 within convenient use of an operative.

22 represents an arresting connection, passing over'guide sheaves 23 and terminating in the lead 22* within convenient reach, so that tension may be applied to resist the movement of the instrument in a direction to arrest the swinging movement of the instrument, when it is desired to return it to the floor.

The operation of the device is as fol lows z-An operator or performer seated at or otherwise mounted upon the instrument 1, as for instance by means of a seat 1 will be raised with the instrument by winding up the Windlass 15 and either simultaneously therewith or after the desired elevation has been attained, according to the effect to be produced, one or both of the swinging connections 8 will be pulled in a direction to develop a pendulous action in the instrument. Simultaneously with or subsequently to, or at intervals during the swinging or elevating movements, or both,the rotating connection 18 will be manipulated to impart rotation to the instrument. This may be done by a considerable driving pull at the out side, which will leave the instrument spinning upon the swivel 4., or by repeated or continuing pulls either in a constant or alternating direction, to impart rotation either continuously in the same direction or alternately in opposite directions. It will be obvious that a great variety of eifects may be produced according to the predetermined manipulation can, where the object to be performed upon is a musical instrument or other instrument which may be operated with cadence, the operation of the apparatus may readily be carried on with a definite relation to or in harmony with the performance upon the instrument.

It is obvious that suitable power multiplying connections such as block-and-tackle may be applied to the leads 8, as well as to the lead extending downwardly from the elevating and suspending cable 7 and windlasses or other form of winding mechanism may be employed in connection with the leads 8, either directly or with intervening power multiplying connections. I also desire it understood that while I have shown means for manually operating the Windlass, any suitable form of prime mover such as an electric motor or driving connections from the prime mover may be employed for operating such Windlass or other windlasses, or winding apparatus that may be used in connection with the invention.

The counter-balances applied to the leads 8 serve an additional important function, in that they at all times take up the slack on those leads when the instrument or apparatus is being raised or when it is swinging in a direction to slacken a cable 8.

It will further be obvious that the operation of the device is not limited to purely variously changed by combinations of movements. The direction of movement may be variously changed by combinations of movements on the elevating and laterally moving connections. For instance, if the elevating and one of the laterally moving connections are simultaneously drawn, the movement of the instrument would be in a diagonal or angular direction. As a further illustration, if the instrument were drawn to one side of the vertical suspension and the laterally moving connection, which is holding it there, were paid out and the elevating connection simultaneously drawn in, the instrument might be caused to take a horizontal path at a desired elevation, which hori zontal movement could be continued beyond the vertical. line of the elevating connection, by drawing in on the opposite laterally moving connection and letting out on the elevating connection. In short, by proper application of the principle of the parallelogram of forces, any desired direction of movement may be developed at will.

If desired, the laterally moving connections might be more than two in number leading from the upper end of the sling in of the various connections and r different radial directions, for the purpose of increasing the range of possible movements that may be imparted to the apparatus.

1. A display apparatus comprising a sling adapted to be connected to an instrument, an elevating connection for said sling adapted to permit freedom of lateral motion to the instrument suspended and means for imparting and controlling lateral motion to the sling, while permitting freedom of vertical movement thereto.

2. A display apparatus comprising a sling adapted to be connected to an instrument, an elevating connection for said sling adapted to permit freedom of lateral motion to the instrument suspended and means for imparting and controlling lateral motion to the sling, while permitting freedom of vertical movement thereto, said elevating means comprising a flexible hoisting and suspending connection having an overhead guiding support and means for imparting vertical movements to said hoisting and suspending connection.

3. A display apparatus comprising asling adapted to be connected to an instrument, an elevating connection for said sling adapted to permit freedom of lateral motion to the instrument suspended and means for imparting and controlling lateral motion to the sling, while permitting freedom of vertical movement thereto, said means for imparting and controlling lateral movement comprising a flexible connection extending laterally from the sling.

4. A display apparatus comprising a sling adapted to be connected to an instrument, an elevating connection for said sling adapted to permit freedom of lateral motion to the instrument suspended and means for imparting and controlling lateral motion to the sling, while permitting freedom of vertical movement thereto, said means for imparting and controlling lateral movement comprising a flexible connection extending laterally from the sling with a guidingsupport therefor and a counterbalance mounted thereon beyond said guiding support.

5. A display apparatus comprising'a sling adapted to be connected to an instrument, an elevating connection forsaid sling adapted to permit freedom of lateral motion to the instrument suspended and means for imparting and controlling lateral motion to the sling, while permitting freedom of vertical movement thereto, said sling having a swivel through which it is connected to all of said elevating and lateral movement connections.

6. A display apparatus comprising a sling adapted to be connected to an instrument, an elevating connection for said sling adapted to permit freedom of lateral motion to the instrument suspended and means for imparting and controlling lateral motion to the sling, While permitting freedom or vertical movement thereto, said sling having a swivel through Which it is connected to all of said elevating and lateral movement connections and having means for imparting rotary motion to the sling independently of said'elevat-ing and lateral movement connections.

7 A display apparatus comprising a sling adapted to be connected to an instrument, an elevating connection for said sling adapted to permit freedom of lateral motion to the instrument suspended and means for imparting and controlling lateral motion to the sling, While permitting freedom of vertical movement thereto, said sling having a swivel through which it is connected to all of said elevating and lateral movement connections and having means for imparting rotary motion tothe sling independently of said elevating and lateral movement connections, comprising a pulley and a flexible connection leading from said pulley to a laterally removed point.

8. A'display apparatus comprising a sling adapted to be connected to an instrument, an elevating connection for said sling adapted to permit freedom of lateral motion to the instrument suspended and means for imparting and controlling lateral motion to the sling, While permitting freedom of vertical movement thereto, said elevating means comprising a flexible hoisting and suspending connect-ion having an overhead guiding support and means for imparting vertical movements to said hoisting and suspending connection comprising a block-and-tackle and a Windlass.

The foregoing specification signed at Washington D. C. this 28th day of October, 1911.

DAVID G. KINDLEBERGER.

In presence of two witnesses HERVEY S. KNIGHT, BARNETT S. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

